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MoD Restarts Ajax Armoured Vehicle Acceptance Under Tight Controls

The cautious return follows an Army probe that found no single cause for last year’s crew illnesses.

Overview

  • The Ministry of Defence, which announced the change on Tuesday, said trials will resume in a phased crawl-walk-run plan using a small number of vehicles under strict conditions.
  • Investigators reported noise and vibration were below legal limits and said symptoms likely came from a mix of issues such as incorrect track tension, loose engine-deck bolts, cold exposure, variable training and poor air quality inside the hull.
  • The 23 Ajax vehicles used during November’s Exercise Titan Storm will be kept from troops until the Army confirms they are safe to return.
  • Early upgrades will target air filtration, crew heating and power generation, and the Army will assign separate named leaders for operation and maintenance as two independent reviews continue.
  • General Dynamics welcomed the move, critics questioned safety and value in the £6.3 billion programme after reports of possible fume exposure, and officials said all affected soldiers are back on duty with most symptoms short term.